Let’s face it…Starting a business is exciting, enthralling, and sometimes…terrifying. Want to know something super exciting? You aren’t the first person to feel that way.
Nope! Not by a long shot. In fact….
Everyone has been in your shoes.
They really have! Ok. Not your ACTUAL shoes, this is your proverbial, business shoes.
Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE had to start their business from the ground up. No one is simply born an online superstar, coaching genius, business maven. Everyone learns through doing, and you, startup bliss loving business goddess/god that you are aren’t the first to blaze a trail. Everyone starts at square one. Every doula had their first client. Every writer wrote their first book, landed their first agent, and published for the first time. Every e-course instructor created their first course, and had to market it. Every yoga teacher stepped in front of a group of students, in their first paid gig, for the first time. Every coach has coached someone for the first time (this bliss doula included!)
Almost all my clients, save for maybe 10% of them, are in startup or pivot mode. New blog, new business, shift in direction, new mission or vision, new pathways of thought a jammin’ and jivin’ through their brains. The single most common concern is always: How can I do this?
How can I compete? How can I do this when there are so many others who do this? What about all the people who have already started? Why would anyone hire a new yoga teacher rather than an experienced one? Why would anyone read my book when someone else has already written a book on x subject?
The list goes on and on.
People are afraid to start. Afraid to put that pen to paper. Afraid to build that website. Afraid to enter the sea of competition out there. I’ve been there. Done that. Got the tee-shirt. And man oh man, is it an ugly shirt.
The reality is, you are someone’s favorite flavor, or will be someone’s favorite flavor. Someone will dig your offering, at your price point, you just have to meet them. It doesn’t matter if that ‘first time’ was years ago, or yesterday. We all have to START to get anywhere.
Just because you aren’t the most experienced, doesn’t mean you aren’t the right fit. When I started my coaching practice six months ago, I had zero clients. Zip. Zero. Nada. I had two e-courses, but zero coaching clients. So I decided to start advertising that I was accepting coaching clients, I hustled, I priced myself way below the market rate of coaches, and gave them a guarantee they would get something out of my coaching. And blammo! I filled up my first coaching group in one month.
Suddenly I had people talking about me, tagging me in posts, etc. And now, six months later, my practice has more than doubled. Why? Because I started.
Am I the best coach in the world? Hell to the no.
Am I the best fit for every single one of my clients? I’m a darn good fit, that’s for sure!
Are they getting value out of what I offer? Abso-freaking-lutely.
Was it scary as all hell to start? Fuck. Yes.
Four Takeaways to Remember:
1. You have a different voice, affect, viewpoint, magic to offer the world. OWN your difference, and your work will shine.
2. You might not be the BEST in the world, but you might be the best for the job/client. That is the magic.
3. You have to Start to Get More Experience
4. You are and/or will be Someone’s (and likely a lot of folks) Favorite Flavor
Leave a comment! Tell us…What do YOU do to remind yourself that you have the mojo to be a bliss weavin’ fool?
Show up. Seriously. I know it sounds basic but when I show up and connect with others, my confidence takes over and I feel very at home, a reminder that I’m doing what I love. And by showing up to do what I love each and every day, my skills are growing. Win win.
Yes! Sometimes showing up is the easiest way to remind yourself that you can do ‘this’. ‘This’ of course being whatever it is you are trying to conquer. Sometimes its business, sometimes its exercise, and sometimes its just being present. 🙂
Thanks for sharing Amanda!